Front sight for firearms



Eaamw Em 33"233c UR 199899863 SR 1935. F. L. HUMESTON 1,939,863

FRONT SIGHT FOR FIREARMS Filed March 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a 53 GEOMETRBCAL lNSTRUMENTS.

Feb. 5, 1935. F, HUMESTON 1,939,363

FRONT SIGHT FOR FIREARMS Filed March 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRONT SIGHT FOR FIREARMS Maryland Application March 1, 1934, Serial No. 713,434

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in sights for firearms and particularly to frontsights therefor.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a ramp-type front-sight which may be produced at a low cost for manufacture.

Another object is to provide, at a low cost for manufacture, a convenient and effective hooded front-sight.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superior front-sight for firearms characterized by ease and facility of conversion from one type to another.

A still further object is to provide a front-sight which may be readily converted from a plain front-sight to a ramp-type front-sight, and vice versa.

Another object is to provide a superior frontsight for firearms having a hood or cover feature which may be conveniently applied and removed in accordance with the requirements of the marksman.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken view in side elevation of the forward portion of a firearm-barrel showing a front-sight embodying the present invention mounted thereon, including the ramp and hood features;

Fig. 2 is a front end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, save that the hood is removed and the ramp is shown in vertical central-longitudinal section;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the forward end of the barrel, with the ramp in place thereon and the hood omitted;

Fig. 8 is a similar view but with the ramp removed;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the ramp detached;

Fig. 10 is a similar view of the bifurcated key; and

Fig. 11 is a similar view of the hood or cover.

.The embodiment herein chosen for the illustration of the present invention includes a sightbase 20 having a depending transverse dovetaillug 21 for driving-fit into a transverse dovetailgroove 22 formed in the upper surface of a firearm-barrel 23. The said sight-base is provided on each of its respective opposite sides with a longitudinal key-receiving groove 24-24 and is provided with an upstanding longitudinal rib 25 surmounted by a so-called sight-bead 26.

The foregoing provides a complete front-sight, but in the event that either the manufacturer or the user desires a so-called ramp-type frontsight, a ramp 2'7 may be fitted onto the upper surface of the barrel 23 and over the sight-base 20 before referred to. The ramp 27 herein illustrated is struck up from sheet-metal and includes complementary side walls 28-28, a transverselycrowned rear slope or rampflike surfaeeswva more-steeply-sloped tfansversely-crowned front slope 30 and a flat plateau 31 depressed somewhat below the adjacent forward end of the rear slope 29.

The plateau 31 of the ramp 2'? is provided with a rectangular clearance-opening 32 adapted to fit over the upstanding contracted portion of the sight-base 20. The forwardly-facing wall 33 at the junction of the forward end of the rear slope 29 and the rear end of the plateau 31 is pierced to form a key-socket 34 for the purpose as will hereinafter appear. At the junction-point of the forward end of the plateau 31 and the front slope 30 of the ramp, the material is struck upwardly to provide a rearwardly-facing key-retaining abutment 35.

To retain the ramp 27 in place in assembled relation with respect to the sight-base 20 and the firearm-barrel 23, a bifurcated sheet-metal key 36 is employed having complementary arms 3737 spaced apart to a degree just sufiicient to permit them to slide into the complementary longitudinal grooves 24-24 on the respective opposite sides of the sight-base 20. Each of the said arms 3737 of the key 36 is provided with a rearwardly-projecting key-finger 38-38 adapted to enter into the key-socket 34 in the ramp 2'7, and each of the said arms is further provided on its outer edge with an upwardly-displaced hoodretaining flange 3939 for the purpose as will more fully hereinafter appear.

When the ramp 27 is in place over the sightbase 20 and the upper surface of the barrel 23, and the key 36 (which is preferably formed of spring-metal) is installed in place, the forward edge of the said key snaps down forwardly of the key-retaining abutment 35 of the ramp and is thereby prevented from accidental displacement. When the key 36 has been positioned as just described, its complementary key-fingers 38-38 are entered into the key-socket 34 in the ramp 27 so that the complementary arms 37-37 are prevented from spreading at their free ends.

As will be seen by reference to Figs. 5 and 7 in particular, the key 36 when installed as described has the upper surface of its complementary arms 37-37 engaged with the downwardlyfacing top wall of the key-receiving grooves 24-24 of the sight-base 20 and the under face of the said fingers engaged with the upper surface of the plateau 31 of the ramp 27 so as to retain the said ramp firmly in place on the firearm.

In the event that it is desired to have the sight-bead 26 hooded or covered, a substantially U-shaped hood or cover 40 is provided which is preferably formed of spring-tempered sheetmetal and provided along its opposed edges respectively with complementary longitudinal retaining-flanges 4141 for endwise insertion beneath the hood-retaining flanges 39-39 of the key 36 and the adjacent upper surface of the plateau 31 of the ramp 27 as indicated in particular in Figs. 2 and 5.

As thus assembled, the rear slope 29 of the ramp 27 provides the lead-up ramp-effect desired by many marksmen, while the hood or cover 40 serves to make the sight-bead 26 more distinguishable to the vision of certain types of marksmen.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the plain sight illustrated in Fig. 8, for instance, may be conveniently transposed into a ramp-type sight such as is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and may be further converted to a hood-type if desired by installing the hood 40 as indicated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

If after assembling the features as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it is desired to revert to the unhooded ramp-sight (Fig. 7), the hood 40 may be readily removed by sliding the same forwardly from beneath the hood-retaining flanges 3939 of the key 36. If for any reason it is desired to remove the ramp 27, this may be effected by flexing the forward end of the key 36 upwardly over the key-retaining abutment 35 and sliding the same forwardly to remove complementary arms 3737 from engagement with the complementary grooves 2424 of the sightbase 20 and lifting off the hollow ramp 27. The sight is, by this procedure, restored to the condition in which it appears in Fig. 8.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In a front-sight for firearms,the combination with a firearm member; of a front-sight upstanding from the said firearm member; a ramp member of lesser height than and. fitting over the said upstanding front-sight and having a vertical passage therethrough for the accommodation of the said front-sight; and means for retaining the said ramp member in place upon the said front-sight.

2. In a front-sight for firearms, the combination with a firearm member; of a front-sight upstanding from the said firearm member; a ramp member of lesser height than and fitting over the said upstanding front-sight and having a vertical passage therethrough for the accommodation of the said front-sight; and a releasable key member for retaining the said ramp member in place upon the said front-sight.

3. In a front-sight for firearms, the combination with the barrel thereof; of a front-sight upstanding from the said barrel; a ramp member of lesser height than and fitting over the said upstanding front-sight and having a vertical passage therethrough for the accommodation of the said front-sight; and means for retaining the said ramp member in place upon the said front-sight.

4. In a front-sight for firearms, the combination with the barrel thereof; of a front-sight upstanding from the said barrel; a ramp member of lesser height than and fitting over the said upstanding front-sight and having a concave under-surface engaging with the upper-surface of the said barrel and a vertical passage for the accommodation of the said front-sight; and means for retaining the said ramp member in place upon the said barrel and front-sight.

5. In a front-sight for firearms, the combination with the barrel thereof; of a front-sight upstanding from the said barrel; a ramp member of lesser height than and fitting over the said upstanding front-sight and having a concave under-surface engaging with the upper-surface of the said barrel and having a vertical passage for the accommodation of the said frontsight; and a releasable key member for retaining the said ramp member in place upon the said barrel and front-sight.

6. In a front-sight for firearms, the combination with a firearm member; of a front-sight upstanding from the said firearm member; a ramp member of lesser height than and fitting over the said upstanding front-sight and having a vertical passage therethrough and also having a key-retaining abutment; and a releasable key member for retaining the said ramp member in place upon the said front-sight and engaging with the said key-retaining abutment of the said ramp member.

7. In a front-sight for firearms, the combination with a firearm member; of a front-sight upstanding from the said firearm member and formed on at least one side with a longitudinal groove; a ramp member of lesser height than and fitting over the said upstanding front-sight and having a vertical passage therethrough for the accommodation of the said front-sight; and a key member fitting into the groove in the said front-sight for retaining the said ramp member in place thereon.

8. In a front-sight for firearms, the combination with a firearm member; of a front-sight upstanding from the said firearm member and formed on each of its respective opposite sides with a longitudinal groove; a ramp member of lesser height than and fitting over the said upstanding front-sight and having a vertical passage therethrough for the accommodation of the said front-sight; and a bifurcated key-member fitting into the complementary grooves of the said front-sight for retaining the said ramp member in place thereon.

9. In a front-sight for firearms, the combination with the barrel thereof; of a front-sight upstanding from the said barrel and formed on each of its respective opposite sides with a longitudinal groove; a ramp member of lesser height than and fitting over the said upstanding frontsight and having a vertical passage therethrough m 1 k as HMS/ 2L MQTRL MMt for the accommodation of the said front-sight; and a bifurcated key member fitting into the complementary grooves of the said front-sight for retaining the said ramp member in place thereon.

10. In a front-sight for firearms, the combination with the barrel thereof; of a front-sight upstanding from the said barrel and formed on each of its respective opposite sides with a longitudinal groove; a ramp member having a vertical passage fitting over the said upstanding front-sight and provided adjacent one end with a key-receiving socket and adjacent the other end with a key-retaining abutment; and a bifurcated key member fitting into the complementary grooves of the said front-sight and engaging the said key-receiving socket and key-retaining abutment of the said ramp member.

11. In a front-sight for firearms, the combination with the barrel thereof; of a front-sight upstanding from the said barrel; a ramp member having a vertical passage fitting over the said front-sight; a key member for retaining the said ramp member in place upon the said frontsight; and a substantially U-shaped hood member engageable with the said key member for being retained in place thereby over the upper end of the said front-sight.

12. In a front-sight for firearms, the combination with the barrel thereof; of a front-sight upstanding from the said barrel; a ramp member having a vertical passage fitting over the said front-sight; a bifurcated key member engageable with the said front-sight for retaining the said ramp member in place thereon and having upwardly-offset edge-portions on each of its respective opposite sides; and a substantially U- shaped hood located over the said front-sight and having its complementary arms engaged beneath the upwardly-offset edge-portions of the said key member.

FREDERICK L. HUMESTON. 

